Three points in the bag from today's final Premiership match at Bath will guarantee Newcastle a Zurich wildcard spot and the chance to qualify for next season's Heineken European Cup.

Three points in the bag from today's final Premiership match at Bath will guarantee Newcastle a Zurich wildcard spot and the chance to qualify for next season's Heineken European Cup.

That is quite a turnaround from the begining of February, when the Falcons were sitting bottom, six points adrift and favourites for relegation.

Victory over Saracens at Kingston Park last weekend finally removed the threat of the drop and took Rob Andrew's side to eighth in the table.

The permutations today are seemingly endless with regard to European qualification, wildcards and relegation.

Put as simply as possible, Newcastle cannot go down and they could finish anywhere from seventh to 10th.

If they draw today at Bath and score four tries, they would get those three points - two for the draw and a bonus point - and that would guarantee them at least eighth place and a wildcard spot.

If Newcastle win at Bath (four points), with a bonus point (five points), they could finish as high as seventh in the table, but three points would gurantee a two-leg wildcard play-off.

The first leg would be in midweek - home or away depending on how high they finish - with the second leg next weekend.

If Newcastle get into the play-off and win they are through to the wildcard final at Twickenham on May 31 - the same day as the Premiership final.

Victory then would put Newcastle into the Heineken Cup next season.

It won't be easy today, with Bath needing to win to have a chance of avoiding relegation. "It's quite strange," said England cap David Walder, who has just returned to the Falcons squad after a season sidelined with a broken leg.

"It could turn out to be one of the best seasons we have had if we make it into Europe - weird almost.

"But there is a long way to go. However, it is our aim this weekend to make the play-offs and then make Europe.

"Having spent six months at the bottom of the table that would be a a bit of a turnaround to make it into the Heineken Cup.

"It would a great bonus for the players and the fans who have definitely played their part in the last few games by getting behind us and turning up in their droves. To turn it around in eight weeks has been fantastic and the crowd have been right there with us."

Walder's return to the Newcastle squad has given manager Rob Andrew an extra option in the backs, but Walder expects to start on the bench with skipper Jonny Wilkinson in the number 10 shirt and he hopes to play some part in the game in the later stages, possibly at full-back.

"There were times when you sat there and despaired but the club have been really good to me and coming back into it in January, I knew the end was in sight and I always had something to aim for.

"It's great to be back after nine months out. It's been a while and it's good to be playing again - and I'm unbeaten this season!"

Mike Catt looks set to return to the Bath side. The fly-half has not played since the epic victory over London Irish last month, having been sidelined with a recurrence of the hamstring problem that has dogged his season so far.

However, the 31-year-old came through yesterday's session without any problems and is named in the Bath squad.